When boat capsizes, it’s charter captain to the rescue

Four people fishing on Lake Michigan early Sunday morning were rescued by a local charter fishing boat after their 17-foot boat capsized about two miles offshore.

The Port Washington Fire Department was dispatched by the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office at about 5:43 a.m. Sunday following a report of a capsized boat with four people in the water holding onto the boat about two miles north of the Port Washington marina.

Waves at the time were reported to be three to five feet.

One of those in the water was able to call 911 on a cell phone.

Two boats from the Port Fire Department and the Ozaukee County Rescue Boat were dispatched from the marina, while additional Coast Guard resources were requested, according to a Port Fire Department press release.

While rescue units were responding, the charter fishing boat Nicky Boy IV, captained by Brad “Shorty” Huse, heard the occupants calling for help, located the capsized boat and pulled all four people from the water.

The four people were estimated to have been in the water for 20 to 30 minutes, according to the press release.

Fire department boats came in contact with Nicky Boy IV and confirmed all four occupants were accounted for.

Fire department personnel determined those rescued did not require medical attention and allowed them to return to the marina aboard the charter vessel, according to the press release.

Back at the harbor they were examined by emergency management personnel and declined transportation to the hospital.

DeBoer said the four men were in “pretty good spirits” when they were rescued.

The Ozaukee County Rescue Boat, which is operated by the Emergency Management Office, recovered the capsized boat and towed it back to the harbor.

County Director of Emergency Management Scott Ziegler said the four men were fishing and that the boat’s owner lives in Washington County.

None of the four men were wearing life vests, although there were vests in the boat. State law does not require people older than 12 to wear a life vest, only to have a vest available, Ziegler said.

DeBoer said the exact cause of the capsize isn’t yet known, but said he suspects the waves were filling the boat with water “and the bilge pump couldn’t keep up.”

“We are thankful to the crew of Nicky Boy IV for assisting the four occupants.,” Port Fire Chief Joe DeBoer said in the press release. “Their willingness to respond to the calls for help and bring all four aboard played an important role in the successful outcome of this incident.”

In a social media post, Nicky Boy Charter Fishing owner Sharon Waranka thanked Huse and his crew, the charter guests and responders.

“Sometimes being in the right place at the right time gives you the opportunity to simply help one another, and today, that is what mattered most,” Waranka wrote.

Other agencies assisting during the incident included the Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Port Washington Police Department and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.